Research Titles and Staffing

Research Career Ladder

Effective February 1, 2023, the review and approval of research staff personnel actions in Workday moved to Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness (HROE). The review of research staff personnel actions has been shared amongst Talent Management and the Classification and Compensation office.

  • Contact HROE’s Classification and Compensation department for all position actions on research positions including Create New Position, One Time Payment, Change Job, Add Additional Job, Request Compensation Change, Business Title Change, Primary Job Switch, or Edit Position Restrictions. Contact info: 979-845-4170 or hrcomp@tamu.edu.

In the 31.01.01.M7 Employee Compensation Administration Rule, it states that the Vice President for Research (VPR) or designee approves the full lower, middle and upper band ranges of applicable non-faculty research titles, and the Vice President for Research or designee approves the rates for all excluded non-faculty research positions. Specifically, the following is a list of the titles that will require VPR approval:

  • Research Assistant
  • Research Associate
  • Senior Research Associate
  • Research Specialist I
  • Research Specialist II
  • Research Specialist III
  • Research Specialist IV
  • Research Specialist V
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate
  • Assistant Research Scientist
  • Associate Research Scientist
  • Research Scientist
  • Senior Research Scientist

For compensation actions related to the above positions outside the Division of Research (DOR), the VPR has delegated these approvals to Brian Payne, Director of Classification and Compensation. For positions within DOR, the VPR or designee will still approve all requests.

Memos need to be addressed to the Vice President for Research, Dr. Jack Baldauf. If the request is outside the Division of Research, it will still list Dr. Jack Baldauf, but the HR Generalist will route the request to Brian Payne for designee approval. We ask that Dr. Baldauf is still listed on the memo in case Brian Payne is out and Dr. Baldauf is the one to sign the salary memo.

Pay Grade Table: System-Wide Pay Plan

Texas A&M System-Wide Pay Plan
Staff Salary Structure
Title Code Title Pay Grade Recommended Education and Experience FLSA
8544 Research Assistant 5 Appropriate bachelor’s or equivalent combination of education and experience. Exempt
8545 Research Associate 7 Bachelor’s and 2 years’ relevant professional experience* Exempt
8554 Senior Research Associate 9 Bachelor’s and 4 years’ relevant professional experience* Exempt
*A Master’s degree is equivalent to two years of experience.

Research Specialist Track

Title Code Title Pay Grade Recommended Education and Experience FLSA
8556 Research Specialist I 10 Bachelor’s and 4 years’ related experience* Exempt
8551 Research Specialist II 11 Bachelor’s and 6 years’ related experience* Exempt
8552 Research Specialist III 12 Bachelor’s and 8 years’ related experience* Exempt
8557 Research Specialist IV 13 Bachelor’s and 10 years’ related experience* Exempt
8553 Research Specialist V 14 Bachelor’s and 12 years’ related experience* Exempt
*A Master’s degree is equivalent to two years of experience.

As a note, departments can post System-wide Pay Plan research positions within the lower and middle band range.

Research Scientist Track

Title Code Title Pay Grade Recommended Education and Experience FLSA TAMU Minimum
8630 Postdoctoral Research Associate Commensurate Appropriate PhD** Exempt $50,000.00
8627 Assistant Research Scientist Commensurate Appropriate PhD and relevant professional experience.** Exempt TBD
8628 Associate Research Scientist Commensurate Appropriate PhD and 3 years’ relevant professional experience.** Exempt TBD
8634 Research Scientist Commensurate Appropriate PhD and 6 years’ relevant professional experience.** Exempt TBD
8637 Senior Research Scientist Commensurate Appropriate PhD and 8 years’ relevant professional experience.** Exempt TBD
** The above titles do not have an equivalency statement and a PhD is required of the role.

As a note, the above titles are excluded from the System-wide Pay Plan and do not have an assigned pay grade. The Classification and Compensation office is in the process of gathering market data for research titles. For titles with a TBD, please contact the Class & Comp office at 979-845-4170 or by email at hrcomp@tamu.edu. Departments may set higher rates based on industry and these must be  on file with HROE Class & Comp.

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